Malawi’s representatives Ascent Academy gave the home fans a promising start to the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifier campaign with a 2-1 victory over Young Buffaloes of Botswana in Group.
The victory ensured them to take lead the group with three points following other group teams Gaborone United of Botswana and UD de Lichinga of Mozambique’s barren draw in an early kick off.
The home side, buoyed by the jam-packed Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre got the job done with an early goal scored one minute after kick off by Malawi international striker Faith Chinzumu.
However, the tournament debutants home fans’ jubilation was short-lived when Green Buffaloes equalised through Sandiswa Ngcamphalala equalised 11 minutes later.
Ascent restored the lead just before half-time recess when Alepha Chimbeta scored the second in injury time which became the winning goal.
Both teams approached the second half with caution as the hosts pushed for the third goal to extend the lead while Green Buffaloes battled for an equaliser which never came.
The visitors were dealt a big blow in the 83rd minute when they were reduced to 10 players after forward Simangele Sikhondze was sent off after following a red card.
She saw red following a foul on Ascent midfielder Leticia Chinyamula and will miss the match against UD de Lichinga on Sunday.
Ascent face Gaborone United on Sunday while UD de Lichinya date Green Buffaloes. Malawi’s representative will fight to win or avoid defeat in a bid to clear the way to advance in the competition.
Ascent coach Thom Mkolongo said he was delighted with to have started with the tournament with a win.
“We planned to score early although they equalised early as well because we could not deal with their long balls. What is important is the fact that we scored the second goal late in the second half and defended well,” he said.
His counterpart, Pochisiwe Khakona bemoaned the early goal to have caught them off guard.
“When we conceded that early goal that changed everything for us. We didn’t come to the party today, but I am happy with my players. They fought until the end,” she said.
